Playlist: 10 Muse songs to hear before their Tampa concert

In an era when fame arrives as fast as the internet can carry it, Muse is a throwback to an older model.
The British trio is one of the biggest bands in the world – one of the few modern rock acts that can even support an arena tour – but fame came slowly by today’s standards.
Most Americans weren’t even aware of the experimental prog-rockers until 2009’s platinum-selling smash “The Uprising.” That was five albums in.
The upside? There’s a whole lot of Muse songs to be rediscovered.

Here are 10 tracks that deserve another listen before Muse plays the Forum on Saturday.
“Stockholm Syndrome” from “Absolution” – The best of both Muse worlds on display, as the track builds and builds from aggressive, heavy-rock guitars on the verses and crescendos into a futuristic, operatic chorus. Plus, the disorder suffered by hostages (Stockholm Syndrome) makes a pretty cool metaphor for a bad relationship.
Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXN9acC9edU
“Sing For Absolution” from “Absolution” – The band’s greatest ballad from what is arguably their best album. This is Matt Bellamy’s voice floating out into space at its most haunting. For a delicate, hymn-like song, it’s surprisingly hard not to belt this one out as if you’re listening along to a heavier track.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ck6Hcg2cjk
“Sunburn” from “Showbiz” – Literally the song that started it all, and it’s hard to imagine any better way to kick off Muse’s debut album than the great piano riff that opens it. Plus it features one of Bellamy’s best guitar solos ever.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9SZaOJEWXU
“Butterflies and Hurricanes” from “Absolution” – The greatest piano moment in the band’s entire catalog comes at about three minutes in, when Bellamy transports you to classical heaven with a piano solo that serves to make the songs final guitar onslaught that much more intense. It’s good enough to make you overlook the cheesy, inspirational lyrics.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzCKrwOme2U
“Citizen Erased” from “Origin of Symmetry” – Fans of Muse’s earlier, more hardcore rock sound will forever hold this up as one of their best guitar tracks ever. Even at seven minutes long, you can’t get enough.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHUKVoYbdc
“Plug in Baby” from “Origin of Symmetry” – This is the kind of track that makes you wonder how three people can make such a complicated array of noises. It’s all energy from start to finish.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbB-mICjkQM
“Starlight” from “Black Holes and Revelations” – This track marked the band’s expansion beyond heavy rock as they took their sound in more accessible directions. Some longtime Muse fans will complain that it’s the moment they went “mainstream,” but Bellamy’s vocal talent is undeniable on this one.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgum6OT_VH8
“Supermassive Black Hole” from “Black Holes and Revelations” – Even bassist Chris Wolstenholme compared the band’s music being in the “Twilight” films to selling their souls, and this track no doubt got a boost from its appearance in the vampire flick. But overlook that fact and give it a chance anyway.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsp3_a-PMTw
“Resistance” from “The Resistance” – There’s nothing subtle about it, but that’s the way Muse rolls. It gets a boost from some great work on the bass and drums.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPE9uSFFxrI
“Bliss” from “Origin of Symmetry” – The synthesizer throughout this one gives it a sort of blissful disco energy before the guitars and driving bass blast in out of nowhere.
Listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMqsWc8muj8